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Worker burned at Encana well site

An oil and gas worker has been hospitalized after suffering burns in an accident on an Encana well site near Rifle Friday.

The man was doing work for contractor Mesa Field Services of Grand Junction when the incident occurred.

Michael Lightfoot, one of the owners of Mesa Field Services, said he believes the injuries were relatively minor. The victim was taken first to Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle, and then airlifted to a hospital in Denver.

The man is not a Mesa Field Services employee but was subcontracting for the company. Lightfoot declined to say what company he works for and didn’t give his name, but said he believes he lives in the area.

Lightfoot said he also didn’t want to speak about the circumstances in which the accident occurred while his company continues to look into the matter, but he described it as “a minor incident.”

“It was just a flash fire,” he said.

Encana spokesman Doug Hock said he didn’t know how the accident happened and believes the cause is still being investigated. He said he hasn’t heard about the extent of the man’s injuries.
Lightfoot said the well involved is in the production/operation rather than drilling/completion stage.